The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore has issued a media release alerting members of the public not to purchase or use the personal care product named “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream”.
According to the release, this cream is advertised as a product to soothe eczema, chickenpox, and insect bites. “However, [the] HSA’s test revealed that the cream contained a potent steroid (betamethasone valerate), which should be used under medical supervision. A consumer in her 50s suffered severe skin reactions from the use of the cream,” said the release, which included photos of the cream jar and the severe skin reaction on the consumer’s face and neck.
Giving more details, the HSA said, “The consumer had been using ‘Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream’ for about 8 years for her sensitive facial skin and would experience flare-ups (a sudden worsening of symptoms) whenever she stopped applying the cream. She had purchased the cream from a shop in Orchard Road and continued buying it from the seller via WhatsApp after the physical shop closed in 2020.
“In May 2024, she saw that [the] HSA [had] alerted the public to a similar product ‘Special Skin Treatment’, found to be adulterated with a steroid and sold on the website touchskin.com.sg. She immediately stopped the use of ‘Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream’. Two days after stopping use, she developed red, sensitive and itchy skin on her face and consulted a doctor.
“The doctor found her skin to be severely inflamed, sensitive to sunlight, and thinned-out with telangiectasia (spider veins) and reported the adverse event to [the] HSA.”
Investigating the product, the HSA discovered that “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream” and “Special Skin Treatment” cream were sold by the same seller.
The HSA had earlier tested “Special Skin Treatment” and found it to contain a potent steroid (clobetasol propionate). Investigations are ongoing.
Explaining the adverse effects, the HSA release said that betamethasone valerate (used in “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream”) was a potent steroid usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions and should not be used without medical supervision. Prolonged use of these potent steroids could have serious side-effects.
“Creams containing potent steroids for the treatment of skin conditions should only be used under medical supervision. Long-term unsupervised use of such creams can cause hypersensitivity reactions, thinning of the skin and topical steroid withdrawal syndrome (burning, itching and redness following sudden stopping of prolonged use of topical steroids),” said the HSA.
[Potent steroids] may also be absorbed into the body and cause serious adverse effects when applied to large areas of the skin or used over a prolonged period. These adverse effects include high blood pressure, cataracts, muscular and bone disorders, an increased risk of infections and Cushing’s syndrome (a round face or ‘moon face’ appearance and upper body obesity with thin limbs).
Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore
The media release warned: “Consumers should be alert to the dangers of purchasing skin creams from dubious, unfamiliar or online sources. From 2022 to July 2024, [the] HSA had detected an increased number of creams marketed for skin conditions (e.g., rash, eczema and psoriasis) adulterated with steroids and other potent medicinal ingredients.” The list of these products is as follows:
- Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream
- Special Skin Treatment cream
- Star Cream
- Jolicare (Original, Baby and Collagen)
- Tao Ju Hui Yi Mei Li Shang Kou Hu Li Ruan Gao
- EUZEMA Confidence Revival Cream
When used on young children, who were “more susceptible to the effects of adulterants such as steroids”, these creams caused “serious adverse effects”.
The HSA informed consumers, “The creams were sold on websites, e-commerce platforms, social media platforms, and in one case, by a peddler in a makeshift stall.”
HSA advisory to consumers
- See a doctor as soon as possible if you are using “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream” (or any of the creams mentioned above).
- Sudden stopping of the steroid-containing creams without medical supervision may worsen underlying skin conditions or cause topical steroid withdrawal symptoms, such as burning, redness, itching or peeling of skin.
- Consult a healthcare professional if you need help managing your chronic skin condition instead of risking your health with use of unfamiliar skin products.
- Exercise caution when buying products from dubious, unfamiliar or online sources, as you cannot be certain where and how these products were made and whether they have been adulterated with harmful ingredients.
- When buying health products online, only buy from reputable pharmacies or retailers’ websites, or those with an established retail presence in Singapore.
Advisory to sellers and suppliers
- All sellers and suppliers must stop selling these products immediately. HSA will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies products found to be adulterated with steroids.
- Sellers and suppliers are liable to prosecution and, if convicted, may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to SGD 100,000.
Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of these illegal products may contact the HSA’s Enforcement Branch at Tel: 6866-3485 during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.
